Eden Gardens went half full (or half empty) on KKR's first home match and those present were mostly on complimentary tickets. Although, last year and in the first season (second season was held in South Africa) KKR fared badly but still Eden was almost always full.

The reasons could be:1. The prince of Kolkata was ignored in the auction and KKR without Sourav Ganguly is more like Khan Knight Riders than Kolkata Knight Riders.2. No connect with the city (owned by a group of people who have no connect with the city, only 1 player from Bengal in the playing XI).3. First day of the week 8 p.m. match (Bangalore had an 8 p.m. middle of the week game versus Mumbai Indians and again full house)4. Elections around the corner (Chennai too has elections but stadium was almost full).5. Cricket fatigue or overdose of cricket (all matches in all venues would have been affected had this one been a factor).

KKR team management already has cut down on the price of the tickets for the next matches of KKR as a desperate measure to bring in the crowds. One may expect more of complimentary tickets going out and even contests (with questions as difficult as "what is the capital of West Bengal") on the FM doling out tickets of KKR matches, or other innovative techniques after all desperate times call for desperate measures and KKR management has already started taking desperate measures.

KKR might do well this season and even end up in a podium finish, but it definitely has lost the hearts of the city it claims to represent.

Almost $85 millions were invested (or should I say splurged) on these players and it is anybody's guess how many of the above teams can make a profit in the next few years. In addition to the players cost, additional moneys are involved for purchasing the teams (payable yearly), the support team (viz, batting, bowling, fielding coaches, physios and the list goes on), mascots (the Depika's and Katrina's of the world). Of the listed companies in the IPL business (Deccan Chronicle Holdings, GMR, India Cements), Deccan was the most frugal (although seems to have splurged on Christian).